For the first time, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released county-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates from 2001 to 2018. GDP is the value of final goods and services produced by the county's economy within a given year—and provides insight into the vibrance of each county economy.

THE MEDIAN GDP OF ALL COUNTIES WAS JUST SHORT OF $1 BILLION IN 2018

Median real GDP broken down by county population range

COUNTY ECONOMIES GREW BY 39 PERCENT BETWEEN 2001 AND 2018 AND BY 22 PERCENT POST-RECESSION+*

Growth in real county GDP between 2001 and 2018, by county population range. Growth has been calculated based on 2001 values, where each year's GDP is compared to 2001 GDP.

SERVICES-PROVIDING INDUSTRIES ACCOUNTED FOR 69 PERCENT OF COUNTY GDP*

Breakdown of GDP by industry and population, 2018 values

Data Source and Notes

Sources: Department of Commerce / Bureau of Economic Analysis / Regional Economic Accounts

Notes:
+Business cycles are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). According to NBER, the United States entered a recession in December 2007, which lasted until June 2009.
*Counties with suppressions used to avoid disclosure of confidential information have been excluded from calculations.
Real GDP is in thousands of chained 2012 dollars. Industry detail is based on the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Private goods-producing industries: The private goods-producing industries consist of agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction; construction; and manufacturing.
Private services-providing industries: The private services-producing industries consist of utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service; information; finance and insurance; real estate, rental and leasing; professional, scientific and technical services; management of companies; administrative and support and waste management and remediation services; educational services; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment and recreation; accommodation and food services; and other services (except government and government enterprises).
Government and government enterprises: a sub-group of "government and government enterprises." Congressional staff and the U.S. Postal Service are included in this category.